Setting User Charges for Public Services: Policies and Practice at the Asian Development Bank
Dole, David | December 2003
Abstract
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) position on user charges is established
in a variety of official documents. A review of those documents shows that
ADB believes tariffs should be simple, transparent, and predictable; ensure financial
sustainability without subsidies, with a few exceptions; help the poor
satisfy their basic needs, if other means are not feasible; promote efficient use
of resources; and avoid cross-subsidies.
A review of ADB’s practice in tariff setting shows that ADB pays the
most attention to financial issues, and to avoiding financial hardship for the poor.
Economic issues receive little or no attention. The reviews suggest that to improve
both policies and practice, ADB should define and interpret some parts of
ADB’s position; provide technical guidance on efficiency and analyzing subsidies;
focus on delivering services to the poor, rather than merely avoiding financial
hardship; and highlight the value-added of ADB’s involvement, by clearly
and thoroughly presenting information on tariff setting in ADB-supported projects.
These improvements would clarify and emphasize ADB’s position, and
make applying ADB’s position both easier and more consistent.
Citation
Dole, David. 2003. Setting User Charges for Public Services: Policies and Practice at the Asian Development Bank. © Asian Development Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/2285. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.ISSN
1655-5236
Keywords
Trade Finance
Risk Financing
Regional Development Finance
Public Finance
Infrastructure Financing
Financing of Infrastructure
Financial Security
Financial Intermediation
Finance And Trade
Enterprise Financing
Trade Regulation
Trade Finance
Regional Trade Agreements
General Agreement On Tariffs And Trade
Taxation
Business Financing
Investment Requirements
Capital Needs
Tax Incentives
Project Risks
Tariff agreements
Customs convetions
Import policy
Export policy
Investments
Finance
Market
Markets
Use tax
Tax administration and procedure
Taxing power
Effect of taxation
Business enterprises
Foreign trade and employment
Mentoring in business
Trade routes
Show allCollapse
Citable URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11540/2285Metadata
Show full item recordUsers also downloaded
-
CAREC Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy 2020
Asian Development Bank (Asian Development Bank, 2013-10-24)The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy (TTFS) was refined to account for changes in the CAREC Program since 2008, particularly expanded membership and the new strategic framework (CAREC 2020). The refined strategy also reflects lessons learned during the initial phase of implementation, aiming to more efficiently and comprehensively achieve ...The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy (TTFS) was refined to account for changes in the CAREC Program since 2008, particularly expanded membership and the new strategic framework (CAREC 2020). ... -
Annual Report 2014: Operational Data
Asian Development Bank (Asian Development Bank, 2015-01-01)The page has additional information for the ADB Annual Report 2014. In 2014, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $22.93 billion in development assistance, including $13.69 billion financed by ADB’s ordinary capital resources and special funds, and a record $9.24 billion by cofinancing partners. Disbursements totaled $10.01 billion, an increase of $1.47 billion (17%) from 2013, and the first ...The page has additional information for the ADB Annual Report 2014. In 2014, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $22.93 billion in development assistance, including $13.69 billion financed by ADB’s ordinary capital resources and special funds, ... -
Annual Report 2014: Organizational Information
Asian Development Bank (Asian Development Bank, 2015-01-01)The page has additional information for the ADB Annual Report 2014. In 2014, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $22.93 billion in development assistance, including $13.69 billion financed by ADB’s ordinary capital resources and special funds, and a record $9.24 billion by cofinancing partners. Disbursements totaled $10.01 billion, an increase of $1.47 billion (17%) from 2013, and the ...The page has additional information for the ADB Annual Report 2014. In 2014, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $22.93 billion in development assistance, including $13.69 billion financed by ADB’s ordinary capital resources and special ...